In A Word, Festival Was Fantastic

WINTER PARK — Four hundred thousand people, 257 artists and 59 pets with new owners added up to a one-word consensus for organizers of the 31st annual Winter Park Sidewalk Art Festival.

It was fantastic, everyone agreed.

The three-day show that drew a record crowd of 400,000 went off without a hitch. ''Even the rain (on Saturday afternoon) wasn't a problem,'' said festival president Karen Branen. ''It cleared up just in time for the awards ceremony. The crowds were happy, the artists were happy. Everything was great.''

Lt. Doug Ball, who headed the city's police force that patrolled the event, said there were few problems for such a large gathering. ''People used the shuttle buses, which helped tremendously.''

Cash awards totaling $25,500 were given to 53 artists, with New Jersey artist Hiroshi Yamano winning best of show for his glass work.

''The judges this year said they were very impressed with the overall quality of the work,'' said Barbara Francis, a festival committee member. ''They tagged more than 250 pieces for judging and had a tough time getting it down to 53,'' she said.

The festival also was good for 59 orphaned animals from the Orlando Humane Society that went home with new owners. The society, which set up shop at Jacobson's department store on North Park Avenue, surpassed last year's adoption rate of 54 animals.

''This was a tremendous event. Not only did we find new homes for these animals, but we signed up new volunteers and new members,'' said society vice president Martha Lentz.